Cyclists will have more breathing space on Queensland roads within months. Photo: Steven Siewert

The committee found safe passing distances to be one of the biggest issues facing cyclists in Queensland – Mr Emerson responded by announcing minimum clearance distances would be trialled as soon as possible.

On Wednesday, Mr Emerson said that looked like being April.

“This is the first major examination of cycling laws in more than two decades and I am continuing to consider all the recommendations,” he said.

“As I said last November, I will be supporting recommendation eight, or the so-called one-metre rule and expect this to be implemented in the coming months - probably around April.

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“This will mean that motorists must maintain a minimum distance of one metre when passing a cyclist in a 60kph or less zone, and 1.5 metres when travelling above 60.

“This rule was heavily supported by the cycling community and I’m prepared to conduct a two-year trial to test its practical implementation.”

The fine details are still to be worked out, but if the government follows the recommendation from the parliamentary committee, failure to comply with the minimum passing distance could cost motorists up to $4400 and eight demerit points.

An education program will be rolled out ahead of the trial to explain the new rules to drivers and cyclists and help motorists work out how to judge the safe distance.

Sean Sampson, from advocacy group the Amy Gillett Foundation, which has been a major proponent of the “a metre matters” campaign, said the move was “groundbreaking” and one they would like to see rolled out across the nation.

“It will be the first state in Australia to put this legislation into place and we certainly hope that after two years it will be kept in place,” he said.

“Regardless, it is a great step forward into improving safety for cyclists on Australian roads.”

Mr Sampson said an education and awareness program would hopefully make the new law easier to accept as “motorists will know why the laws are being put in place and why it is there to protect cyclists”.

The Queensland parliamentary inquiry began in June last year after the member for Moggill, Bruce Flegg, called for an examination of the issues faced by cyclists, following the death of 25-year-old Richard Pollett, who was killed by a cement truck while cycling on Moggill Road on September 27, 2011.